Tension board for straining wire netting

Abstract

A tension board ( 30, 130 ) for straining net style fencing materials ( 42 ) composed of a first plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal wires and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical wires, is disclosed. The tension board takes the form of an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of the horizontal wires, and a plurality of wire grippers ( 10 ) connected to the elongate member at spaced apart locations. Each of the wire grippers ( 10 ) is configured to releasably grasp a corresponding one of the horizontal wires. This enables quick set up prior to straining and quick release once strained and tied off.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tension board for straining net style fencing materials composed of a first plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal wires and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical wires, said board comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of said horizontal wires, a third plurality of spaced apart apertures extending along said member, and a fourth plurality of wire grippers, the number of said fourth plurality being less than the number of said third plurality, said wire grippers being connected to said elongate member at selected ones of said spaced apart apertures, each of said wire grippers comprising four interconnected arms, one end of the first and second arms being pivoted to each other, one end of the third and fourth arms being pivoted to each other; the other ends of the first and second arms being pivoted to the other ends of the third and fourth arms; one pair of said pivoted arms being shaped to form a wire clamp; a spring extending between an adjacent pair of said arms and arranged to close said wire clamp; and two of said arms having elongate extensions which form handles which, when gripped, open said wire clamp. 
     
     
       2. The board as defined in  claim 1  wherein the number of said grippers equals the number of said horizontal wires. 
     
     
       3. The board as defined in  claim 2  wherein the spacing between said grippers substantially corresponds to the spacing between said horizontal wires. 
     
     
       4. The board as defined in  claim 1  wherein said spring extends between said third and fourth arms. 
     
     
       5. The board as defined in  claim 4  wherein
 said handles extend from said third and fourth arms. 
 
     
     
       6. The board as defined in  claim 1  and having at least one skid. 
     
     
       7. The board as defined in  claim 1  and having a tubular configuration. 
     
     
       8. The board as defined in  claim 1  and having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape wherein a one of said boards can mate with another of said boards in either one of two clamping configurations. 
     
     
       9. The board as defined in  claim 8  and having a transverse cross-sectional shape which is generally U or V-shaped. 
     
     
       10. The board as defined in  claim 1  and joined to a like board by means of a joiner to form a single extended board. 
     
     
       11. A pair of tension boards each of which is as defined in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       12. A method of using the tension board as claimed in  claim 1  to simultaneously straining the horizontal wires of net style fencing material composed of a first plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal wires and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical wires, said method comprising the steps of, in any order,
 selecting some of a third plurality of spaced apart apertures in said elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of said horizontal wires and locating one of a fourth plurality of said wire grippers at each of said selected apertures, 
 grasping each of said substantially horizontal wires in a corresponding said wire gripper, and, thereafter, 
 moving said elongate member so as to simultaneously increase the tension in said horizontal wires. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of using a pair of the tension boards as claimed in  claim 1  to simultaneously straining the horizontal wires of two rolls of net style fencing material each composed of a first plurality of spaced apart substantially horizontal wires and a second plurality of spaced apart substantially vertical wires, said method comprising the steps of, in any order,
 selecting some of a third plurality of spaced apart apertures in a first said elongate member 
 
       having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of said horizontal wires and locating one of a fourth plurality of first said wire grippers at each of said selected apertures, the spacing between each of said connected 
       wire grippers corresponding to the spacing between said horizontal wires,
 selecting some of a third plurality of spaced apart apertures in a second said elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal extent at least corresponding to the distance between the first and last of said horizontal wires and locating one of a fourth plurality of second said wire grippers at each of said selected apertures, the spacing between each of said connected wire grippers corresponding to the spacing between said horizontal wires, 
 for each said roll grasping each of said substantially horizontal wires in a corresponding said wire gripper, 
 
       and, thereafter, moving said first and second elongate members towards each other so as to simultaneously increase the tension in said horizontal wires of both rolls.